Sheary Leads Wake Forest To First Round Lead At ACC Women's Golf Championship

April 17, 2009

GREENSBORO, NC (theACC.com) – Wake Forest sophomore Natalie Sheary fired an opening round 5-under 66 to help give the Demon Deacons an early lead at the 2009 ACC Women’s Golf Championship at Sedgefield Country Club.

Sedgefield, the site where the Atlantic Coast Conference was founded in May of 1953, is hosting its first women’s championship.

Behind Sheary’s round, the Demon Deacons posted a score of 2-over 286 and lead the Cavaliers of Virginia by nine-shots after they shot a round of 295.

Sheary’s round, which included six birdies and just one bogey, set a new women’s course record at Sedgefield. It was just one-shot off the ACC Tournament’s low individual round of 6-under 65 which was set by Kristin Tamulis of Florida State back in 2003.

“I hit the ball really well today,” Sheary said. “We had a great practice round yesterday and being able to see the greens was a great help. Having Coach Dailey and Coach Walton out there by the greens was a big help too.”

Nannette Hill and Jean Chua also posted rounds of 70 and 73, respectively, to help pace Wake Forest.

“Our students played great today and Natalie’s (Sheary) round was just unbelievable,” said Wake Forest head coach Dianne Dailey. “To be 2-over on this course is just good playing by our team. They have been working really hard and I am proud of them.

“I told them today to just go out and enjoy every shot because it’s not often that we get to play such a great course like this,” Dailey continued.

Callie Nielson led Virginia with a round of 2-under 69 and is currently in second place.

North Carolina is in third after an opening round 300 while NC State is fourth after a 302.

Duke, who has won the last 13 ACC Women’s Golf Championships, is currently fifth. The Blue Devils were hampered on Friday as Yu Young Lee was forced to miss the round because of illness.

Jennie Lee paced the Blue Devils with a round of 1-over 72 and she will start the second round in fourth place.

Maryland and Florida State each carded rounds of 317 and are tied for sixth after the first round. Miami and Boston College were also forced to play this week with only four players. The Eagles carded a round of 334 and the Hurricanes posted a 339.

Second round pairings will start at 8:30 a.m. with the group of Miami, Boston College and Florida State. The second wave, which includes Duke, NC State and Maryland, will start at 9:20 a.m. and the final grouping of Wake Forest, Virginia and North Carolina will start at 10:10 a.m.

The championship is free and open to the public.